Doris Watkins

Doris Nell Darby Watkins: devoted wife, mother, friend, teacher and musician; passed away on Wednesday, March 21, 2012, in Norman, OK after a lengthy illness. She was 83. Born in Ft. Smith, Arkansas, on August 4, 1928, Mrs. Watkins was raised in a home that celebrated history, the creative arts and literature. After studying dance and piano at an early age, she decided to focus on a career as a keyboardist and teacher. That youthful realization fueled her interest in music throughout her teenage years, as she explored an ever-increasing assortment of mature piano repertoire. Mrs. Watkins, an avid participant in the Second World War's "Home Front," used her musical skills to regularly entertain soldiers at a nearby military base. As her brother, legendary Army Ranger, William O. Darby, battled Nazi forces in Italy, Mrs. Watkins publicly performed a work by the Jewish composer, Felix Mendelssohn. She always considered music as a "special language" to express love and compassion.
Mrs. Watkins graduated from Hendrix College in Conway, AR followed by graduate studies at the University of Michigan and a Masters Degree from Delta State University in Cleveland, MS. Through the years, she taught piano and organ at the studio and college levels. She was an instructor at Arkansas College (now Lyon College) in Batesville, AR and Delta State University where she retired from teaching in 1990. She was affiliated with the Mississippi Music Teachers Association and Music Teachers National Association, receiving state and national certification in both piano and organ. She was also a member of Delta Kappa Gamma, Mu Phi Epsilon and the American Guild of Organists and was a past President of the Cleveland Woman's Club.
Her extensive career was paralleled by her religious service. Mrs. Watkins was organist and/or choir director at a number of Arkansas and Mississippi churches, including the First Presbyterian Church in Cleveland, MS where she was a member for almost fifty years.
Mrs. Watkins enjoyed a fifty-seven year marriage and professional relationship with the late Lyndell Presson Watkins. They performed together on the organ, piano and harp as recently as December 2006.
Doris Nell Darby Watkins is also preceded in death by her parents, Nellie Hogan Darby and Percy William Darby; her sister, Thelma Mae Darby; and her brother, General William Orlando Darby.
Mrs. Watkins is survived by her daughter, Dr. Sylvia Nell Ryan (Jim); two sons, Lynn Darby Watkins and Lyndell Presson Watkins, Jr. (Lisa) of Semmes, AL; four grandsons, William Watkins of New York City, Michael Ryan (Aubrey) of Auburn, AL, Colin Ryan of Norman, OK and Zachary Watkins of San Jose, CA.
Visitation will be from 1:00-2:00 pm. Saturday, March 24, 2012 at the First Presbyterian Church Chapel in Cleveland, MS. Services will immediately follow beginning at 2:00 p.m., in the Chapel, with Rev. Milton Byrd officiating. Interment will be in the North Cleveland Cemetery. Services have been arranged by Ray Funeral Home.
Memorials may be made to the Supranuclear Palsy Foundation (PSP.org).

First Visitation

1:00 pm - 2:00 pm Saturday, March 24, 2012
First Presbyterian Church Hwy 8 Cleveland, Mississippi, United States

Service Information

2:00 pm Saturday, March 24, 2012
First Presbyterian Church Hwy 8 Cleveland, Mississippi, United States

Interment Information

North Cleveland Cemetery. N Bayou Cleveland, Mississippi, United States